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Paul’s Case

English

Synopsis

A chamber opera in two acts that chronicles the dissolution of a high school student in turn-of-the-20th-century Pittsburgh. After being suspended from school, Paul—a dandy who lives for the arts and works as an usher at Carnegie Hall—is forced by his father to give up his beloved job and take a real one. Feeling trapped, he steals money from his employer, flees to New York City, and revels in the luxury of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. During a drunken evening with a Yale freshman, he recoils from a romantic advance. When he reads in a Pittsburgh newspaper that his theft has been discovered, Paul ends his life by stepping in front of an oncoming train

Composer

Gregory Spears

Lyricist / Librettist / Playwright

Kathryn Walat and Gregory Spears

Year of composition/publication / premiere

2013

Genre

Opera

LGBTQAI+ category

Gay

Level of centrality

Main character

Characters

Paul

Voice type

Tenor

Pronouns

he/him

Publisher / Rights holder

Schott Music / Project Schott New York (PSNY)

Where to buy / access the work

The vocal score and performance materials are available for purchase/licensing from Project Schott New York (PSNY)

Performance rights

For performance rights, please contact the composer and/or publisher to ensure legal compliance.